Southern Valley Fire and Rescue Expands Medical Care with Essentia Health Donation

New advanced defibrillators and cardiac monitors will allow first responders to provide life-saving interventions before ambulance arrival.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Essentia Health has donated $40,000 to Southern Valley Fire and Rescue in North Dakota, enabling the department to upgrade its quick response units to an advanced life support level. The new equipment, including two defibrillators and cardiac monitors, will allow first responders to deliver more advanced care prior to ambulance transport, potentially improving patient outcomes in the communities they serve.

Why it matters

As the population in the area grows, Southern Valley Fire and Rescue has seen a 33% increase in call volume since 2022. This partnership with Essentia Health ensures the department can meet the rising demand for emergency medical services and provide a higher level of care to residents in small towns and townships.

The details

Southern Valley Fire and Rescue serves Briarwood, Horace, Hickson, Oxbow, Wild Rice, Prairie Rose, Frontier, St. Benedict, Stanley Township, Pleasant Township, and parts of Warren Township. The department's quick response units can now operate at an advanced life support level thanks to the Essentia Health donation, which funded the purchase of two advanced defibrillators and cardiac monitors.

  • Southern Valley Fire and Rescue has seen a 33% increase in call volume since 2022.

The players

Southern Valley Fire and Rescue

A fire department serving several small towns and townships in North Dakota.

Essentia Health

A health care system that provided a $40,000 donation to Southern Valley Fire and Rescue to upgrade their emergency medical equipment and capabilities.

Chris Mahoney

The fire chief of Southern Valley Fire and Rescue.

Dr. Christopher Anderson

The associate chief medical officer at Essentia Health.

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What they’re saying

“Our crews are often the first on scene for medical emergencies, and those first minutes matter. This partnership with Essentia Health has helped us build the structure and capabilities needed to deliver more advanced care prior to ambulance transport arrival. This will allow patients to potentially receive life-saving interventions without delay and support better patient outcomes.”

— Chris Mahoney, Fire Chief, Southern Valley Fire and Rescue (am1100theflag.com)

“We are proud to help Southern Valley Fire and Rescue not only meet the growing demand for area EMS services, but also to advance the level of care they can provide. This partnership aligns with our mission to make a healthy difference in our communities, and this is a way we can help our neighboring communities receive the care they need when they need it.”

— Dr. Christopher Anderson, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Essentia Health (am1100theflag.com)

The takeaway

This partnership between Essentia Health and Southern Valley Fire and Rescue demonstrates the importance of collaboration between health care providers and first responders to ensure communities have access to high-quality, timely emergency medical care, especially in rural and underserved areas.